MILK'S image is wholesome, comforting and nutritious but is dairy really an essential food group or have we been fooled by one of the world's best marketing ploys?

Earlier this month we published this story about a respected doctor who had rejected dietary recommendations about dairy consumption.

In an editorial penned for medical journal JAMA Paediatrics, Harvard professor David Ludwig said humans had no nutritional requirement for animal milk, contradicting the advice of most nutritionists who encourage people to consume three servings of dairy a day.

Dairy products.Source:Supplied

We received such an avid response from readers who praised Dr Ludwig for 'stating the bleeding obvious' and speaking out against the powerful dairy industry that we quizzed a range of health professionals about their own dairy consumption.

Advanced accredited practising dietitian Melanie McGrice from Nutrition Plus said she consumes dairy for the taste and nutritional benefits.

"These guidelines … support the consumption of low-fat dairy products because they're an excellent source of calcium. They're also a good source of other key nutrients such as protein, iodine and B vitamins," she said.

"We're not just talking about one individual who has a theory. We're talking about guidelines formed from the review of 55,000 evidence-based research studies."

A farmer milking his cows. Picture: AP.Source:AP

But naturopath Hayley Stockbridge from Better Health in Sydney backs Dr Ludwig's view and hasn't drunk cow's milk for about eight years.

"I stopped consuming dairy products when I was in my final year of studying to be a naturopath. I did my own research and it just clicked for me. It makes no sense that we'd be the only animal to drink the milk of another animal and then expect it to be digested effectively," she said.

"I was also getting Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms including a lot of discomfort, bloating and running to the bathroom. I played around with my diet and found that dairy was definitely the trigger."

The 28-year-old says dairy is acidic, inflammatory and mucus forming.

"About 90 per cent of adults over the age of 12 will be lactose intolerant because we're designed to have milk as a baby but we're just not designed to have it for our entire lives so we lose the ability to digest it," she said.

"Quitting diary usually one of the first things I get my patients to do if they have inflammatory, digestive or immune issues and nine times out of 10 that's the key. For kids I don't necessarily take them off dairy straight away - it depends on their diet - but definitely for adults."

A shopper looks at a display of dairy products at a supermarket in Sydney. Picture: Bloomberg.Source:Supplied

There is no doubt milk is a good source of many nutrients including protein, iodine, vitamin A, vitamin D, riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B12, zinc and calcium, but at least 75 per cent of the world's population is intolerant to lactose, the sugar naturally found in cow's milk.

The groundbreaking book The China Study, which is the largest comprehensive study of human nutrition ever conducted, says dairy is way worse for us than we think.

In multiple, peer-reviewed animal studies, researchers discovered they could actually turn the growth of cancer cells on and off by raising and lowering doses of casein, the main protein found in cow's milk.

Former President Bill Clinton lost 24 pounds after reading the book and converting to a plant-based diet. In the process he gave up dairy and switched to almond milk.

Ms Stockbridge says the countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis are Australia, the US and the UK "where we have the highest intake of dairy".

"While it's very well proven that the key to preventing osteoporosis is not by drinking more milk, no one is directing us otherwise," she said.

"It's generally quite hard to get enough calcium in your diet (without dairy). It's about eating lots of leafy green vegies and lots of nuts and seeds, but it's not easy. You have to think about getting enough calcium every day."

Two medical professionals news.com.au spoke to also said they avoid milk, but for different reasons.

Director of Gastroenterology and a Professor of Medicine at the Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne Melvyn Korman said he avoids milk to keep his cholesterol down.

"I have milk coffee but I haven't gone and had a glass of milk since I was a teenager," The Gut Foundation councillor said.

"I have patients who are lactose intolerant. Most people are lactose intolerant if you have enough milk. If you have a large volume it stresses the gut of quite a lot of people."

Nutrition expert Professor Stefan Broer from the Australian National University doesn't drink milk, simply because he doesn't like the taste.

"Milk is good for nutrients unless you're lactose intolerant. For anyone else there's no reason why you couldn't or wouldn't drink milk.

"We're a little more intelligent than a cow or calf, but otherwise the building blocks to make a calf are the same building blocks to make a human so there's no reason why we couldn't consume cow's milk. For those who can digest milk it's an entirely appropriate nutrient."

A Black Simmental cross calf out of a Simmental cross cow.Source:News Limited

"Humans are the only mammalian species which not only continues to drink milk after it is weaned, but, from birth, drinks the milk of other mammals," she says.

"Obviously the dairy industry would have you believe that not only is cows' milk very nutritious but that it is a perfectly natural substance for humans to drink.

"There is no doubt that cows' milk, and cows' milk products, provide a great many nutrients … Yet that should not be allowed to obscure the fact that humans, and especially human babies whose digestive and immune systems are still immature, were designed to drink human milk - and may reasonably be expected not to tolerate anyone else's."

Helen Goodwin, an experienced lecturer and naturopath, doesn't like the taste of cow's milk but couldn't imagine life without cheese, butter, cream or yoghurt.

"I do however have very little of these foods in my daily diet, don't have any intolerances and choose organic products where possible," she says.

"I also don't feel the need to drink milk as a source of calcium, which is often promoted as a good reason and a motivator for many people.

"But I feel that if you are going to consume dairy, it's the quality of what you choose that can make a difference."

Ms Goodwin says fresh, whole milk (that is organically produced and preferably raw) is fine in moderation for those who can tolerate it.

"The process of removing fat from whole milk, plus the pasteurisation and homogenisation process kills off many of the beneficial components of real milk and you are left with an empty food that can be very difficult to digest," she says.

"Another problem that many people encounter is the formation of mucus. This issue may come down to the breed of cow the milk comes from, as the older A2 breeds produce a type of milk protein that doesn't seem to activate the mucus gland, in the same way as milk from the newer A1 breeds of cow.

"Mucus produced from dairy consumption can cause problems in the respiratory and digestive systems, which can lead to a whole host of health issues such as skin problems like eczema and psoriasis, digestive complaints and recurring infections.

"I have found that many people who struggle to drink cow's milk in any of its forms manage Goat's milk, as it's more easily digested, due to its similarity to human mother's milk."

If you're looking for an alternative, Body and Soul have explored which milk is best while CHOICE has reviewed over 70 varieties of soy, rice, almond, oat and coconut milks to see how they stack up nutritionally.

The consumer body says that in terms of nutrients, calcium-fortified soy is the best substitute for cow's milk.

But Ms Stockbridge wouldn't recommend some milk alternatives either.

"Often people switch straight onto something like soy which is usually genetically modified, has estrogenic issues and has been linked to cancers. And some of the other ones like rice and oat milk are very high in sugar. Almond milk is probably the best of the bunch," she said.

"It's usually coffee where most people struggle so I'd suggest people try to cut out the amount of milk that's in their coffee. That's a good start otherwise try an espresso or switch to tea."

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